Top 10 Steakhouses in America’s Steak Loving Cities

Looking for the best steak in town? In D.C., head for Ray's the Steaks. Uploaded by laurenlovestoeat.com.

Regardless of how health conscious Americans become, there’s still no substitute for a great steak. I’d love to rank these based on personal experience, but I don’t get to visit every city in the country on an expense account. So let’s look at the cities best known for steakhouses, and see what’s popular in each:

9. Carnevino, Las Vegas. Chosen the best in town by the Las Vegas Sun, Carnevino combines a fine steakhouse with Italian cuisine. From the review: “Owned by celebrity chef Mario Batali, the restaurant offers handmade pastas, organic super prime beef and an international wine list in a sophisticated setting.”

8. Ray’s the Steaks, Washington, D.C. One of three highest-rated by the Washingtonian Magazine, Ray’s has been making the list since 2007. They write, “The meat is fabulous on its own, but the accompaniments—horseradish cream, béarnaise and mushroom sauces—are hard to pass up.”

Peter Luger's Steak House

7. Al Biernat’s Restaurant, Dallas. Gayot.com makes the selection here. Their review states: “Any night guarantees local-media guest sightings and a back corner may be shadowing a celebrity. Owner Al Biernat, former head honcho at The Palm, will probably greet you at the door.”

6. Sparks, New York. According to the New York restaurant bible Zagat’s, Sparks is “Perfect. A little noisy, but otherwise perfect. Filets of exceptional quality, sides that are superb. Surprisingly, the best pecan pie I’ve ever eaten.”

5. Savoy Grill, Kansas City. Chosen by the website 10best.com. It says, “For an authentic experience, enjoy plump lobsters and cooked-to-order steaks while lounging in an old- fashioned booth like the one Harry Truman favored on his frequent visits to the eatery. A Kansas City tradition.”

4. Pete Miller’s, Chicago. Chosen by Chicagomag.com, this restaurant (actually located in suburban Evanston) “Steak, billiards, and live jazz. OK, so Americans did not invent all three, but we sure as hell perfected them. And Evanston’s Pete Miller’s, a dark-shuttered publike haunt near Northwestern University, gets all three right.”

2. Cut, Las Vegas. With so many high rollers, so many expense accounts, Las Vegas merits a second selection. The Las Vegas Sun said, “CUT is all about variety in a lineup of carnivorous delights. For a price, it will put before you three cuts of the best steaks in the world.”

1. Peter Luger Steak House, New York. The mother lode. Here’s what I wrote in my post from Oct. 15, 2010: “The main attraction is a large porterhouse, prepared for one to four people. The steak comes to your table pre-sliced, served with signature creamed spinach and German fried potatoes.”